Makoshika State Park is located in the rugged badlands of eastern Montana in Glendive. The name Makoshika (Ma-ko'-shi-ka) is a variant of a Lakota phrase meaning land of bad spirits or badlands. Although the area resembles the badlands of the Dakotas, these badlands expose older rock layers. Since the two RV Gypsies had just finished exploring Theodore Roosevelt National Park which isn't that far away, they expected Makoshika State Park to be similar but they soon realized that Makoshika State Park's beautiful terrain is quite unique!

Makoshika State Park "(ma-KO-sh(ih)kuh" from Sioux Ma-ko-shi-ka or bad earth is the largest of Montana's state parks at more than 11,000 acres. It is located east of Glendive. The park contains spectacular badlands which conceal dinosaur fossils. The park contains rock from the Hell Creek Formation and dinosaurs such as Triceratops are found there. In 1997 a fossil Thescelosaurus was found at Makoshika. Birds such as the turkey vultures, prairie falcons and eagles make their homes here.

Below: A closer look at areas shown in the above panorama.

Below: A Panorama of another area of Makoshika State Park

Below: The photo is zoomed in on part of the panorama above

Below: Zoomed in on part of the panorama above

Below: Suddenly, the colors of the terrain changed.

Below: The Cap Rock

Below: The two RV Gypsies relaxed at Makoshika State Park in Montana

Below: Eyeful Vista area of Makoshika State Park

Below: Looking left

Below: Looking right

Below: The two RV Gypsies drove on a loop road that turned out to be a rough dirt road and not a place they wanted their truck to be in, so they got out of that area as quickly as they could.

Note: The two RV Gypsies returned to Makoshika State Park in 2016 and spent more time in the park and more pictures of other areas, (6 pages) including the famous Cap Rock Trail. To see those photos, click here, but be sure to return to this page to continue with 2012 adventures.

The two RV Gypsies took a day trip in Boissevain, Manitoba, Canada

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